Item number: M131 / M132

Year: AD 1822-1891

Material: Lead

Size: star 76.7 x 76.7 x 5.2 / order 41.7 x 58.3 x 6.5 mm

Weight: 60.3 / 34.4 g

Provenance: Morton and Eden 2023

These two items are the lead trials of the Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of the Southern Cross of the Brazilian Empire, one being the star worn on the breast and the other being the order suspended from the grand sash. The trials were made of clay or lead, inexpensive materials, to ensure that there were no flaws in the casting moulds. Once confirmed without errors, they were then replicated using materials such as gold, silver, and copper.

The appearance of the star features a pentagram surrounded by a laurel wreath, with each of the five points having two peaks. In the centreof the star on the obverse side, there is the left-facing portrait of the first monarch of the Brazilian Empire, Emperor Pedro I. The order suspended from the grand sash, worn by recipients of the officer and knight classes, follows the same design as the star, with the only difference being the wearing position on the sash. There is no significant difference in appearance between the order and the star, except for the addition of a royal crown symbolisingthe monarchy at the top.

On December 1, AD 1822, Pedro I, with the support of the colony, declared independence from Portuguese rule and was crowned as the Emperor of the newly established Brazilian Empire. On the same day, he created the first decoration of this new nation, the Imperial Order of the Southern Cross. Due to the geographical feature of the Southern Cross constellation being visible, it became a national symbol, used on the Brazilian flag and on this order. The order has a total of six grades, and in AD 1891, after the overthrow of the monarchy by the republican government, this order was briefly abolished. It was reinstated and maintained with its six grades under the name “National Order of the Southern Cross” in AD 1932. As of the year AD 2024, this order remains the highest honour bestowed in Brazil. (See Table)

物件編號: M131 / M132

年代: 公元 1822-1891

材質: 鉛

尺寸: 星章 76.7 x 76.7 x 5.2 / 勳章 41.7 x 58.3 x 6.5 mm

重量: 60.3 / 34.4 g

來源: 莫頓與伊登 2023

這兩個物件是巴西帝國大十字級「帝國南十字勳章」鉛製範版，一枚是別在胸前的星章，另外一枚則是懸掛在大綬帶上的勳章。範本是為確定鑄造的模具是否有疏失，使用黏土和鉛等廉價材料製做的翻製。經確認無誤後，方才以金、銀和銅等原料來翻製。

星章的外觀是一個被月桂花環包圍的五芒星，每一道光芒上各有兩個頂點。星章的正面中央，有著巴西帝國首任君主：佩德羅一世的左側肖像。懸掛在大綬帶的勳章，跟軍官和騎士級綬勳者佩帶的型制相同，僅有佩帶位置的差異。勳章和星章的外觀並無大異，僅在上方增添一頂象徵皇室的皇冠。

公元1822年12月1日，佩德羅一世在殖民地擁護下，宣布脫離母國葡萄牙統治加冕為獨立的巴西帝國皇帝的當天，同時創立這個新生國家的第一個勳章：帝國南十字勳章。由於看得到南十字星的地理特色，南十字星成為國家象徵，運用在巴西國旗和這枚勳章上。這枚勳章總計有六個等級，公元1891年推翻君主制的共和政府一度廢除該勳章。直到公元1932年，方才以「國家南十字星勳章」名義恢復和維持六個等級的制度設計。這枚勳章截至公元2024年，仍作為巴西的最高榮譽勳章頒放。(見下表)